Cooking with nothing but wood/smoke chips

[Jrecee]

So I'm kinda tired of my gas grill. It's convenient of course, but I like cooking over an actual fire. I've started trying adding smoke chips and stuff but it hasn't made any substantial difference. I am wondering if I can simply buy a cheap charcoal grille, put some wood chunks in there, and cook with nothing but that. I have looked at those big green eggs which are sort of an all in one thing but they're way too expensive. I'm just looking into buying a $40 grille charcoal grille and using it. . . without charcoal. Any grilling/bbqing connoisseurs here? (yes I googled the spelling of connoisseurs)

[Hagane Hiryu]

I think you can but it wont cook thick meat very well. Coals burn much hotter and more consistently than wood will. But you're going to want the wood to burn down. You dont want to cook over roaring flames or anything.

[s1mplehumar]

If you're bent on straight up wood I can't help you. Charcoal briquettes have been given such a bad rep...unjustly I might add.

[Hatta]

You can, but you'll be waiting forever for the wood chunks to burn down to coals. Of course, avoid pressure treated wood, etc. If you just don't like briquettes you can get hardwood charcoal. Personally I don't mind briquettes, as long as they're lit with a chimney starter and not lighter fluid.

[hardrrocker]

lighter fluid + charcol= the best burgers and corn on the cob ever!

[MrPopo]

Yeah, the advantage that gas has over charcoal is that cleanup is easier, but if you'd rather run the wood then you have the same cleanup problem. So go with the charcoal for deliciousness.

[CRTGAMER]

Just got done grilling with propane barbecue, no problem cleaning up. Wire brush off grill letting all the old food buildup drip down to season and smoke the next heart attack meal.

[Octopod]

We used to grill with mesquite chips but I think we just threw them on top of the charcoal rather then just using mesquite alone. We did used to use just wood to cook whole pigs in the ground but that is completely different.

[wilsona26]

I dont ever use propane. Its an abomination in my eyes. I use nothing but hickory and mesquite woods, and if I dont use unburnt wood, I use lump charcoal. There is no better way to make food. It might take longer, but there is a deep satisfaction in waiting to know that you are going to have some of the best smoked food on the planet if you do it right. Besides, cavemen didnt use propane. Get back to your roots buddy. Use the shit that grows out of the earth. I think its better that way. Nobody I ever knew that made barbecue in Kansas City when I was stationed there used propane. If they are one of the most famous places for the stuff, Id almost bet they are right in thier descision to use lump charcoal or raw woods. They have tv shows. Propane grillers dont.

[MrPopo]

They have tv shows. Propane grillers dont.

I can think of one purveyor of propane and propane accessories that has his own show.